Aquarium platform

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is the combination of an aquarium having a generally vertically extending wall, and a platform having an upper portion straddling the top edge of the wall and a ramp portion extending downwardly below the top edge of the wall and into the tank in an inclined relation to the upper platform portion, together with means connected to the upper platform portion and to the vertical wall to locate the platform in overlying relation to the wall.

United States Patent J anicek [54] AQUARIUM PLATFORM [72] Inventor: MarkA. Janicek, 2301 East Bellview Place, Milwaukee, Wis. 5321 1 [22] Filed:March 24, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 22,226

[52] US. Cl ..119/5, 119/3 [51] Int. Cl. ..A0lk 63/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..119/1, 2, 3, 5, 19; 248/309 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,141,442 7/1964 Harris ..119/5 3,260,238 7/1966 Holden ..1 19/5Oct. 24, 1972 3,517,649 6/1970 Holden ..1 19/5 Primary Examiner-AldrichF. Medbery Att0rneyWheeler, Wheeler, House & Clemency [57] ABSTRACTDisclosed herein is the combination of an aquarium having a generallyvertically extending wall, and a platform having an upper portionstraddling the top edge of the wall and a ramp portion extendingdownwardly below the top edge of the wall and into the tank in aninclined relation to the upper platform portion, together with meansconnected to the upper platform portion and to the vertical wall tolocate the platform in overlying relation to the wall 9 Claims, 4Drawing Figures minimum 24 m2 3 699L921 INVENTOK M921 A. dA/v/cfz BY Mi,Mi, MW um AT TOENEY5 1 AQUARIUM PLATFORM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPat. No. 3,141,442 and in the Holden US. Pat. No. 3,327,686.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a platform or structurewhich cooperates with an aquarium tank to provide an upper surfacelocated above the water level and in straddling relation to the top ofthe tank. The platform also includes a ramp or portion which extendsfrom the upper surface in downwardly inclined relation therefrom andinto the water. The ramp preferably is fabricated so as to provide anon-slip surface and to include at the outer end thereof, a lipfacilitating entry onto the ramp of turtles or other like creatures.

Also in accordance with the invention, means are provided forcooperating with the platform to engage one wall of the aquarium tank tolocate the upper surface of the platform structure in straddlingrelation to the aquarium tank. Two embodiments in accordance with theinvention are disclosed. In one embodiment, there is provided, on theundersurface of the upper platform portion, a groove receiving a bracketwhich is preferably constructed of a non-corrosive material and whichhas spaced legs engageable with the opposite surfaces of the tank walland held in holding engagement with the tank wall by reason of thereceipt of the bracket in the groove.

In another embodiment, a pair of ears or tabs depend from the upperportion in the area adjacent to the ramp and are adapted to engage theinside surface of the wall upon which the platform structure rests. Atthe other or outer end of the upper surface there are fixed one or morerods or legs which extend in inclined relation to the upper surface andhave, at their outer ends, feet adapted to engage the outer surface ofthe wall upon which the platform rests. The feet, together with thepreviously mentioned tabs prevent lateral movement of the platformstructure relative to the wall while retaining the platform structure insupported relation on the top edge of the wall.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of asurface located in straddling relation to the top edge of an aquariumtank wall, which surface extends outwardly beyond the tank but isavailable for access by an animal by reason of a ramp which extends ininclined relation downwardly into the tank.

Another principal object of the invention is the provision of a sunningsurface which generally affords the features described above, and whichcan be inexpensively and easily manufactured, and which can be reliablysupported on one of the upper edges of the tank and will provide a longand useful life.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become known by thefollowing description and accompanying drawings in which:

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of anaquarium platform arrangement in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view from underneath of variouscomponents of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of anotherembodiment of an aquarium platform arrangement in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the arrangement shown inFIG. 3.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Shown in FIG. 1 is an aquarium tank 11 which can beof almost any conventional construction including an upright wall 13. Inaccordance with the invention, the wall 13 can be somewhat curved inhorizontal cross section and can be vertically inclined, as well asbeing generally upright. Normally the aquarium tank 11 will be filledwith water to the level 17.

Mounted in straddling relation to the top edge 19 of the wall 13 of thetank 11 is a platform or structure 21 which includes an upper portion 23having an upper or sunning surface 27 which extends generallyhorizontally and outwardly beyond the tank 11, as well as horizontallyinwardly of the tank 11. Extending inwardly of the tank 11 and at adownward inclination to the upper portion 23 is a ramp or portion 29which preferably is formed to facilitate access by animals to thesunning surface 27. In this regard, the lower or outer end of the ramp29 includes a lip 31 which extends generally horizontally and parallelto the sunning surface 27 and below the normal water level 17 tofacilitate initial entry onto the ramp 29 of an animal, such as aturtle.

In order to prevent slipping and to facilitate upward and downwardtravel of a turtle to and from the sunning surface, the ramp 29 ispreferably constructed with either a series of steps 33 or with aso-called nonskid" surface or with both.

In order to guard against the possibility of an animal, such as aturtle, falling from the sunning surface 27 outside of the confines ofthe tank, the platform 21 is provided with a generally upwardlyextending vertical wall 37 around the periphery of the sunning surface27 extending from the ramp 29.

Preferably, the platform 21, as thus far described, is fabricated as aunitary plastic molding although other means for fabrication of theplatform can be employed.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for mounting theplatform 21 in straddling relation to the top edge 19 of the wall 13 andwith the ramp 29 extending into the water in the tank 11 and with thesunning platform 23 extending horizontally outwardly from the tank 11.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, such means includes ahorizontally extending groove, socket or slot 39 which extends along theundersurface of the upper platform portion 23 in generally perpendicularrelation to the tank wall 13. Received in the slot 39 is one part of abracket or means 41 which also includes a second part having spacedmembers or feet 43 held in gripping engagement with the opposed surfaces47 and 49 of the tank wall 13 by receipt of the first bracket part inthe slot 39.

More particularly, the slot 39 is formed by a pair of parallel walls 51depending from the undersurface of the upper portion 23, each wall 51having at the lower end or free end thereof, a horizontally inwardlyextending end or flange 53 which projects in parallel relation to theundersurface of the upper portion 23.

The bracket 41 is preferably constructed of a single piece of metalhaving a desirable amount of resiliency. The first part or portion whichis received in the slot 39 is U-shaped having a pair of connected legs59 arranged in parallel abutting relation to each other andsubstantially occupying the cross sectional area of the slot 39. Theother or second part of the bracket comprises respective feet 43extending from the free end of the legs 59, at a substantialanglethereof, i.e., at a right angle as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and inslightly spaced parallel relation to each other so as to admittherebetween the tank wall 13 and so as to frictionally grip said tankwall 13.

When the bracket 41 is thus assembled to the tank 1 1 and to theplatform 21, the upper portion 23 of the platform rests on the bracket41 which, in turn, rests on the upper edge 19 of the wall 13.

The arrangement shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is essentially the same as thatshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the ramp 29 has a somewhat differentshape and is provided with a non-skid surface and except for the meansmounting the platform in straddling relation to the top edge of thewall. Accordingly, the same numerals as applied to the embodiments ofFIGS. 1 and 2 are applied to the comparable structure in the embodimentsof FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the means for mounting theplatform in straddling relation to the tope edge of the wall includes atleast one ear or tab 67 which extends downwardly from the upper platformportion 23 from location adjacent to the ramp 29 and which can have arubber sleeve or bumper 71 attached thereto and which is adapted toengage the inner surface 47 of the wall 13 adjacent the top edge 19thereof.

The platform mounting means shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 also includes one ormore rods or legs 77 which extend from the outer end of the upperportion 23 of the platform 21 in downwardly inclined relation toward theouter surface 49 of the wall 13. At their outer lower ends, each of thelegs 77 includes a bent foot 79 which can include a rubber bumper 81 andwhich is adapted to engage the outer surface 49 of the wall 13 andthereby cooperate with the tabs 67 to locate the platform 21 such thatthe upper portion 23 thereof rests on the top edge 19 of the wall 13. Asshown in the drawings, in order to achieve improved stability, i.e., toprevent pivotal movement about a vertical axis, two cars or tabs 67 andtwo legs 77 are employed.

Also as shown in FIG. 4, the legs 77 can form portions of a U-shapedmember having a leg connecting portion 82 which is fixedly connected tothe undersurface of the upper portion 23 of the platform 21 as by aU-shaped clip 83 shown in FIG. 3.

It will be readily apparent that the legs 77 and tabs 67 cooperate notonly to prevent pivotal movement about 4 in ftl lfi iii r'iiff ti'it i e313i 8 *ifiiiii T3 and against relative movement relative to the wall13, notwithstanding travel to and from t e platform 21 by turtles orother like animals.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of an aquarium tank having a generally verticallyextending wall, a platform having an upper portion overlying the topedge of said wall and extending outwardly from said tank and a rampextending downwardly and inwardly of said tank in inclined relation tosaid upper platform portion to below the upper edge of said wall, andplatform mounting means on said upper platform portion and engaging saidwall to locate said platform in overlying relation to said wall.

2. A combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said platform has awall extending vertically upwardly from the periphery of said upperportion extending from said ramp.

3. A combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ramp is formedto provide a series of steps.

4. A combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ramp has anupper non-skid surface.

5. A combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ramp has at theouter end thereof a lip extending in generally parallel relation to saidupper port1on.

6. A combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said platform has awall extending vertically upwardly from the periphery of said upperportion extending from said ramp and wherein said ramp has, at the outerend thereof, a lip extending in generally parallel relation to saidupper surface and is formed between said upper portion and said lip toprovide a series of steps having a non-skid surface.

7. A combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said platformmounting means includes means on the undersurface of said upper portiondefining a slot extending generally perpendicularly to said wall andmeans including a first part received in said slot and a second partengaging the opposite surfaces of said wall for retaining said platformin overlying relation to said wall.

8. A combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means forretaining said platform in overlying relation to said wall includes amounting bracket fabricated of a unitary piece of metal and wherein saidfirst part comprises a U-shaped portion having legs in abuttingrelationship with each other and wherein said second part includes feetextending respectively from said legs in spaced relation to each otherso as to cap ture said wall therebetween.

9. A combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said upper portionrests on the upper edge of said wall and said platform mounting meansincludes at least one tab projecting downwardly from said upper portionfrom a location adjacent to said ramp and engaging the inner surface ofsaid wall and a leg extending downwardly and inwardly toward said wallfrom the outer part of said upper portion and having a foot engaging theouter surface of said wall.

1. The combination of an aquarium tank having a generally verticallyextending wall, a platform having an upper portion overlying the topedge of said wall and extending outwardly from said tank and a rampextending downwardly and inwardly of said tank in inclined relation tosaid upper platform portion to below the upper edge of said wall, andplatform mounting means on said upper platform portion and engaging saidwall to locate said platform in overlying relation to said wall.
 2. Acombination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said platform has a wallextending vertically upwardly from the periphery of said upper portionextending from said ramp.
 3. A combination in accordance with claim 1wherein said ramp is formed to provide a series of steps.
 4. Acombination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ramp has an uppernon-skid surface.
 5. A combination in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid ramp has at the outer end thereof a lip extending in generallyparallel relation to said upper portion.
 6. A combination in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said platform has a wall extending verticallyupwardly from the periphery of said upper portion extending from saidramp and wherein said ramp has, at the outer end thereof, a lipextending in generally parallel relation to said upper surface and isformed between said upper portion and said lip to provide a series ofsTeps having a non-skid surface.
 7. A combination in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said platform mounting means includes means on theundersurface of said upper portion defining a slot extending generallyperpendicularly to said wall and means including a first part receivedin said slot and a second part engaging the opposite surfaces of saidwall for retaining said platform in overlying relation to said wall. 8.A combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means forretaining said platform in overlying relation to said wall includes amounting bracket fabricated of a unitary piece of metal and wherein saidfirst part comprises a U-shaped portion having legs in abuttingrelationship with each other and wherein said second part includes feetextending respectively from said legs in spaced relation to each otherso as to capture said wall therebetween.
 9. A combination in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said upper portion rests on the upper edge of saidwall and said platform mounting means includes at least one tabprojecting downwardly from said upper portion from a location adjacentto said ramp and engaging the inner surface of said wall and a legextending downwardly and inwardly toward said wall from the outer partof said upper portion and having a foot engaging the outer surface ofsaid wall.